Jeep Wrangler flips in IIHS test
05-13-20 | 10:52 AM
#1
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Jeep Wrangler flips in IIHS test
Source: https://jalopnik.com/if-you-can-read...ppe-1843322027
It seems the redesigned Jeep Wrangler is no match for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notorious small frontal overlap crash test—it’s the first car to ever flip over in the test.
The IIHS released a video and press release about its three tests with the all-new Jeep Wrangler, where it flipped over two out of three times:
The result of the testing downgrade’s the Wrangler’s rating in the test from “good” to “moderate,” and here’s how IIHS explained it:
The Wrangler performed well by the normal metrics used to evaluate performance in the driver-side small overlap test. The driver’s space was maintained well, and the dummy’s movement was well-controlled. However, the partial rollover presents an additional injury risk beyond what the standard criteria are intended to measure. A vehicle tipping onto its side is not an acceptable outcome for a frontal crash, and as a result, the Wrangler’s overall rating was downgraded to marginal.
Rollovers — even partial ones like those that occurred in the Wrangler tests — are especially dangerous crashes, in part due to the risk of complete or partial ejection. This is a particular concern in the Wrangler, which has a roof and doors that can be removed. The Wrangler also lacks side curtain airbags designed to deploy in a rollover to keep occupants inside. It is not required by regulation to have side curtain airbags because of its removable roof.
As you can see, the Jeep starts on all four wheels, and then ends up on its passenger side at the end of the test. This is the first time it’s ever happened in the IIHS small overlap test, so just like a toddler with sharpie all over their face ignoring the new art on the walls, FCA doesn’t have anyone else to point to.
What’s even more alarming is that the only test the new Jeep didn’t flip in was FCA’s own, which was already investigated by the IIHS. The rollovers happened in IIHS audit testing, which it doesn’t always do for every new model. And on top of that, the previous generation Wrangler performed much better in the same test.
And the IIHS only did the test twice because FCA requested a different propulsion setup from the first test, which it approved. The Jeep still flipped. Have you talked to your teens about Jeep driving?
The IIHS released a video and press release about its three tests with the all-new Jeep Wrangler, where it flipped over two out of three times:
The result of the testing downgrade’s the Wrangler’s rating in the test from “good” to “moderate,” and here’s how IIHS explained it:
The Wrangler performed well by the normal metrics used to evaluate performance in the driver-side small overlap test. The driver’s space was maintained well, and the dummy’s movement was well-controlled. However, the partial rollover presents an additional injury risk beyond what the standard criteria are intended to measure. A vehicle tipping onto its side is not an acceptable outcome for a frontal crash, and as a result, the Wrangler’s overall rating was downgraded to marginal.
Rollovers — even partial ones like those that occurred in the Wrangler tests — are especially dangerous crashes, in part due to the risk of complete or partial ejection. This is a particular concern in the Wrangler, which has a roof and doors that can be removed. The Wrangler also lacks side curtain airbags designed to deploy in a rollover to keep occupants inside. It is not required by regulation to have side curtain airbags because of its removable roof.
As you can see, the Jeep starts on all four wheels, and then ends up on its passenger side at the end of the test. This is the first time it’s ever happened in the IIHS small overlap test, so just like a toddler with sharpie all over their face ignoring the new art on the walls, FCA doesn’t have anyone else to point to.
What’s even more alarming is that the only test the new Jeep didn’t flip in was FCA’s own, which was already investigated by the IIHS. The rollovers happened in IIHS audit testing, which it doesn’t always do for every new model. And on top of that, the previous generation Wrangler performed much better in the same test.
And the IIHS only did the test twice because FCA requested a different propulsion setup from the first test, which it approved. The Jeep still flipped. Have you talked to your teens about Jeep driving?
Last edited by bitkahuna; 05-15-20 at 05:53 AM.
05-14-20 | 04:03 PM
#3
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05-14-20 | 04:11 PM
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If you want to confine it strictly to IIHS, fine. But the IIHS test is not the only one in the business. Broncos, Wranglers, Samurais, Monteros, the Trooper/SLX, and other body-on-frame SUVs have been failing rollover tests at Consumer Reports for decades. That's not my opinion, but a fact.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-14-20 at 04:18 PM.
05-14-20 | 04:13 PM
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Rollover tests and this are totally different. This is a rollover that resulted from a frontal collision, not a rollover that resulted from a handling operation which is what rollover tests measure.
05-14-20 | 04:17 PM
#6
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From: Alberta
Correct. Big difference between trying to induce a rollover and it happening during a standard crash test. I'd like to see stats on the vehicle but it looks like a death trap.
05-14-20 | 04:51 PM
#7
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If you want to confine it strictly to IIHS, fine. But the IIHS test is not the only one in the business. Broncos, Wranglers, Samurais, Monteros, the Trooper/SLX, and other body-on-frame SUVs have been failing rollover tests at Consumer Reports for decades. That's not my opinion, but a fact.
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05-14-20 | 05:50 PM
#8
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I don't see what the big deal is. A rollover is a rollover...and has the same effect, from the same center of gravity, on the vehicle's occupants regardless of what actually caused it.
05-14-20 | 06:02 PM
#10
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Well, yes, that's exactly my point...a too-high center of gravity has always been a potential safety flaw. All these tests are doing is verifying the basic laws of physics.
Remember the old Daihatsu Rocky? The American-market export version that Daihatsu sent over here had both the front and rear wheel-track widened several inches over the home Japanese-market version. Reason? Daihatsu saw what Suzuki had done with the ill-fated Samruai, which became famous for rollovers in the American-market. They took pains to avoid that on the export version....you can see the especially-widened fenders. Result?.......the Rocky was significantly more stable.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-14-20 at 06:10 PM.
05-14-20 | 06:12 PM
#11
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IIHS isnt NHTSA, and a private party (insurance sponsored) and while its tests are not required, the popularity of such tests have pushed mfgs to adapt and improve their safety standards.
Having said, what the wrangler did is unusual for a BOF SUV, based on internal IIHS data.
05-14-20 | 07:15 PM
#12
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You don’t see the difference between when a car rolls over going around a sharp curve or in purposeful avoidance maneuvers vs going in a straight line and hitting an object?
Last edited by tex2670; 05-15-20 at 05:15 AM.
05-14-20 | 07:44 PM
#13
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Narrow track + high CG = rollover in extreme maneuvers. Add to this fairly grippy tires with a large footprint, and more powerful engines today have kinda outrun the basic limitations of the original chassis dimensions. Fun to drive, great offroad, but you have to be careful - you can't change the laws of physics, What you can negotiate easily at 15 mph becomes wildly impossible at 60.
05-15-20 | 05:57 AM
#14
Jwong, thanks for the thread, but we request people don't just start threads or posts with a link, cut and paste of an article, and no comments of your own. Thanks.
I also changed out the thread's odd clickbait title from the article to something more accurate, and removed the 2018 ad content that was in the cut and paste (which initially made me think the article was old!).
I also changed out the thread's odd clickbait title from the article to something more accurate, and removed the 2018 ad content that was in the cut and paste (which initially made me think the article was old!).
05-15-20 | 06:26 AM
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They're going to say "oh well, SUV's be tippy" and that's just an inherent part of driving an SUV., etc etc etc.
But as the results show, this is NOT to be expected of any modern engineered vehicle, be it truck, suv, car, etc.
While FCA's public facing comments are that they have full faith in the Wrangler and have ______ miles without incident, I am pretty sure that the folks in Auburn Hills are trying to figure out a mitigation to do for a future re-test.